Safety pin



'June 30, 1970 A. M. LEWIS 3',5`17,42".l

SAFETY PIN Filed Nov. 14, 1968 INVENTOR ARTHUR M. LEWIS BY fwd/@M -ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,517,421 SAFETY PIN Arthur M. Lewis, 2730 Fernwald Road, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15217 Filed Nov. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 775,601

Int. Cl. A44b 9/12 U.S. Cl. 24-162 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An end-rounded cylindrical plastic body has parallel legs defining a main fabric receiving longitudinal slot; and perpendicular to, and extending inwardly through one leg to intersect, the main slot has a narrower longitudinal slot receiving an elongated, shiftable, fastening element arm having an inwardly bent fabric penetrating pointed free end portion shiftably captive in and the other end fixed in the narrow slot; the point being always within the body. In one type, a slide, longitudinally slideable along the said one leg, cams the arm to or releases it from a closed fabric penetrating position in its slot. Another type exposes the arm at all times to digital opening and closing, relative to an arm catch lip in the narrow slot.

The present invention is concerned with a safety pin type fastener particularly adapted for use as a diaper safety pin, in terms of which it is described, though adaptable for broader application.

Use of the longknown common safety pin, in consequence of the exposed or exposable point and manner of insertion and mode of gripping of the fabric by the fastener, inherently entails some danger of pricking the hands of the one inserting the same, also of pricking flesh of the body region where the pin is applied to clothing, diapers or the like, and further risk of injury to small children finding and playing with an opened pin.

Thus, for example, as the exposed pointed straight leg of an ordinary pin is pushed inwardly through the diaper layers before being turned outwardly, there is danger of piercing either the babys skin or the users fingers interposed between the diaper and the baby to safeguard the latter. Of course, entirely apart from the insertion through fabric the very open exposed condition of the long pointed pin arm represents a hazard to the one handling the ordinary pin as well as a particular danger should an infant or young child free a pin or open a pin in play. Some pin forms have ybeen hitherto proposed for overcoming these dangers by providing a structure receiving the fabric for perpendicular penetration by a point supposedly guarded by the structure. However, such prior art proposals have had certain disadvantages such as complexity of structure, cost of fabrication, non-ruggedness or failure suiciently to safeguard the piercing point.

Accordingly the present invention provides a safety pin with the fabric piercing point so arranged that even when the pin is open, the piercing point or prong is shielded so that such inherent danger of the ordinary pin is overcorne. This is achieved by providing an elongated roughly cylindrical body slotted from one end in clothes-pin-like fashion to receive the layers of fabric to be secured; and locating, in a slot formation extending transverse to the main slot, a spring wire element having a free end bent into a pointed fabric piercing prong, which even when the pin is open is retained within its receiving slot and thereby shielded from any flesh-piercing or scratching exposure. Means are provided to retain the prong closed or pressed inwardly across the slot piercing and securing the fabric. Moreover, the thickness of the body relative to the fabricreceiving slot shields the point even as it is traversing the slot.

3,517,421 Patented June 30, 1970 ICC In a simplest two-part form of the invention, the spring element is retained under a catch lip or detent notch; or in a preferred form is actuated to closed position and released therefrom by sliding motion of a third part in the form of a camming retainer element. Thus in addition to overcoming the inherent danger of the old type pin, it is seen from this general description that a device is provided relatively simple in construction and number of parts, hence simple in its fabrication and as well less likely to wear and damage for greater durability. The invention is hereinafter described in greater detail.

It is the general object of the present invention then to provide an improved safety pin in which a piercing element at no time is so exposed as to present any probability of danger.

A second object of the invention is the provision of an improved safety pin overcoming the hazards of the standard safety pin comprised of a minimum number of parts. A further object is the provision of an improved safety pin of the type described having a durable and simple construction which is further convenient and comfortable in use, both in application and on the body of the wearer.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken as indicated by the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing a modification of the FIG. 1 form of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing a second modification;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment of the invention in a two-piece structure; and

FIG. 6 is an end view taken as indicated by the line 6 6 in FIG. 6.

In the drawings, the invention is shown embodied in structures preferred for diaper safety pins. A three-piece safety pin embodiment is shown in FIGS. l and 2 as comprising an end-rounded, elongated, generally externally cylindrical body B, slotted from the left end inwardly on a diametric plane to receive the fabric to be fastened, indicated by the dot-dash lines F; a fabric piercing or penetrating element P and a slide element S longitudinally slideable along the body from an innermost position in the slot, when the device is in open condition as shown in solid lines, towards the left to cammingly displace the piercing element inwardly to fabric piercing and retaining relation when the device is in closed condition as indicated by the dashed lines, at P', S.

The wide fabric receiving slot 10 divides the body B into two generally symmetrical similar legs bottom and top 11, 12, the free ends of which at the left are rounded for comfort and convenience of insertion; and which are integrally joined at the right end beyond the slot by the joining or yoke region 13.

At right angles to the main slot 10 a narrower slot formation, indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 14, extends inwardly or downwardly entirely through the top leg intersecting slot 10 to continue as it were in a blind slot in the bottom leg; the slot portion 14a in the upper leg and the blind slot portion 14b in the lower leg running longitudinally co-extensively from a region short of the free leg ends into the yoke region 13 beyond the right end of the slot 10.

The penetrating member P, preferably of non-rusting, non-corrodible metal, is of a generally elongated U-shaped or rounded bottom V-shape form, in its free condition with the legs 15a, 15b tending to spring apart. The straight bottom leg 15b received in the bottom slot 14b merges through a rounded yoke portion 15e merging into the generally straight top leg portion 15a, which, however, at its left end is -bent inwardly into a pointed fabric penetrating prong 16. The natural or free form of an element P is such that with the bottom leg 15b and yoke portion 15e seated in the bottom slot 14b and in the slotted formation of the body yoke 13, the upper leg 15a extends out of the slot 14a at an angle as shown in solid lines; with, however, the pointed portion of the fabric penetrating leg 16 still retained in the upper slot portion 14a.

The slide element S has a generally thin semi-cylindrical portion 18 conformed to the curvature of the body, the opposite more or less diametrically opposed end portions of which are joined by an integral roughly diametric bar 18a, extending through the slot 10 and closely embracing the bottom side and edges of the top leg 12. Conveniently, the portion 18a of the slide extending transversely across the slot 14 serves for slide retention on the body by encountering the inward displaced point 16 when the latter is in closed position across this slot.

Thus as the slide is moved to the left from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, it cam'mingly engages the sloping top of the leg 15a of the penetrating element P to displace it inwardly into the slot, thereby causing the penetrating portion 16 to move in a direction generally perpendicular to the main slot 10, piercing fabric disposed therein as it advances through the main slot downwardly into the lower slot portion 14b as shown in dotted lines.

For convenience of fabrication from plastics, the body may be molded in as a main body portion, with left end open, that is, with the section of FIG. 2 carried to the left end, and the rounded left end provided by insertion of rounded cap pieces into each body leg.

Conveniently for fabrication, the body B may be formed of human-tissue-compatible substances by modern plastic or metal molding techniques, for which reason the shape, as more particularly indicated by the section of FIG. 2 is especially useful for conserving material and diminishing weight. Therein the major length of both the upper and lower slots 14a, 14b are dened by inward longitudinal rigs within the body, which is generally the form of a cylindrical shell except at its end and yoke portions. It may be observed that the width-to-thickness ratio of the main, fabric receiving slot is such that it is practically impossible for flesh to extend inward to the path of the point 16.

In the modifications of FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the three principal elements corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are designated by corresponding reference letters, the general external form of the body B and the general overall shape of slide S are similar to those described for FIG. 1, but the modes of securing the retainer element P in correspondingly adapted portions of the body B represent two distinct modifications. In both FIG. 3 and 4, the upper leg has a slot extending therethrough on the diametric plane to intersect the main slot 10 generally as in FIG. 1; but the bottom leg has only a restricted slot portion 14b at its left end to accommodate the free point of the penetrating portion 16 when in closed position; while the slot of the upper leg is carried down only partially, through the right end of the body yoke portion 13 and modied, or the yoke portion modified, for anchoring the right end of the element P.

In FIG. 3 the element P terminates in an anchoring formation d on the right end of leg 15a engaged within the slotted yoke; which formation may be, for example, an eye or loop secured either by cementing in the slot or by a transverse pivot pin therethrough fixed in the body. Where the end is not cemented with the arm reach biased normally to slope up out of the slot, or a pivoting loop is not provided with a reaction spring leg for like purpose, the slide may be provided with an upward projection into the top half of slot 14a which serves to cam the element P into open position as the slide moves to the right.

In FIG. 4 the right end of the body has a transverse notch 20 intersecting the slot 14 near its bottom portion in which is pivotally retentively engaged a short right angle end bent portion 151c of the leg 15a; the notch 20, for retaining 15], having a narrowed mouth either as fabricated, allowing the portion 151c to snap by into the notch, or by deformation subsequent to insertion of 15].

It is thus seen that in general the structure and mode of operation of FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar to that of FIG. l, the modifications being essentially in the manner in which the penetrating spring element P is retained within the body.

A further and more distinct modication, simpler in requiring but two parts, is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6 as comprising merely a body B and a penetrating element P of spring form. Here the body may be considered generally of the form shown and described for FIG. l, with the slot for the element P extending entirely through the upper leg 12 and partially beyond the lmain slot 10 into the lower leg 11 along a diametral plane; with, however, the upper part of the top leg cut away over the major portion of its length from the right to a projecting portion 22 at the left which embodies a catch formation or lip 23 overhanging a portion of the retainer-receiving slot.

Here the receiving or blind slot in the lower leg may be relatively narrow to embrace the straight leg portion 15b of the penetrator element; but the upper slot, at least in the region proximate to and in 22, is markedly wider in order to permit lateral displacement (as viewed in FIG. 6) of the upper leg 15a from under the retainer or catch lip 23 to the right, into position where it is free to spring upwardly and outwardly beyond the catch.

In this embodiment of FIGS. 5-6, it is seen that the exposed back portion 15a may be engaged by finger pressure to depress 15a downwardly to clear the catch lip 23, and be displaced into the position in the slot where it is free to spring upwardly, allowing the penetrating point to disengage fabric and clear the main slot 10. In a reverse or closing procedure, by a linger engaging the free back portion of 15a the penetrating point may be caused to pierce fabric by inward motion, and then by lateral displacement be brought back under the catch 23 and released into retained, closed position.

I claim:

1. A safety pin type fastener comprising:

a blunt clothespin-like body providing two legs and therebetween an endwise inward wide longitudinal slot for receiving fabric layers to be secured;

said body including in at least one body leg a narrow longitudinal through-slot intersecting the wide slot over a major part of its length;

a penetrator element disposed in the narrow slot comprising an elongated leg biased to move outwardly but retained in the wide slot,

said elongated leg carrying at least one inwardlydirected, sharp-pointed fabric penetrating prong disposed in the narrow slot, and

said elongated leg movable from an open position within the narrow slot inwardly to a closed position, the prong thereby traversing, and penetrating fabric within, the wide slot,

at said open position the prong point withdrawn Vbeyond the wide slot into the narrow slot;

and means for holding the elongated leg with the penetrating prong in closed position.

2. A fastener as described in claim 1 wherein:

said means comprises a slide longitudinally slideable on the said one body leg to engage the elongated leg in a pin-open condition and cam it inwards to a closed position.

3. A fastener as described in claim 1 wherein:

said element is formed spring wire element providing:

a generally straight portion as said elongated leg having an inner end secured in the region of the innermost end of the wide slot and a generally right-angularly inwardly bent free end portion as said prong; the resilience of said element affording the bias thereof, whereby in a pin-open condition the elongated leg slopes outwardly from the end thereof anchored in the narrow slot.

4. A fastener as described in claim 3 wherein:

said means comprises a slide longitudinally slideable on the said one body leg to engage the elongated leg in a pin-open condition and cam it inwards to a closed position.

5. A fastener as described in claim 3, wherein:

said means comprises an inward catch lip formation partially overhanging one side of said narrow slot near the outermost end thereof and v defining with the other side of the narrow slot an opening for the elongated leg to escape to an open position with the point of the prong yet shielded within the body.

6. A fastener as described in claim 3 wherein:

said narrow slot is continued beyond the wide slot as Ia blind slot into the other body leg; and

in said wire element, the elongated leg portion at its said inner end merges through a reflexly bent yoke portion into a second elongated leg portion, disposed in said blind slot thereby to secure the inner end of the first elongated leg portion.

7. A fastener as described in claim 1 wherein:

said body has an end-rounded, generally cylindrical form, and has a fabric receiving longitudinal slot centered on a diametric plane with a fabric accepting thickness which is` narrow as compared to the diameter of the body, with the center planes of the slots at right angles to each other.

v8. A penetrating pin type fastener comprising in cornbination:

a substantially cylindrical body having a first slot wide enough to accept several layers of the material to be fastened and further having a second slot wide enough to accommodate the hereinafter named penetrator and its support;

a penetrator with a sharp portion suitable to penetrate the material toV be fastened,

said penetrator being attached to the body and movable relative to the body, with said sharp portion confined within the second slot, between a fully `open position and a fully closed position; means maintaining the penetrator in the fully open position whereby the first slot of the body may be placed over the edges of the materials to be fastened; and means for maintaining the penetrator in the fully closed position with the penetrator reaching across the first slot and through the material to be fastened substantially to immobilize the layers relative to each other and to the fastener, and preventing the maaterials to be fastened from slipping off the penetrator;

said first and second slots being narrow to prevent direct access to the sharp portion of the penetrator.

9. A fastener as described in claim 8 wherein the penetrator is formed of wire.

10. A fastener as described in claim 9 wherein the resilience of the wire is the -means for maintaining the penetrator in the fully open position, and wherein a part of the body forms a hook as the means for keeping the penetrator in the fully closed position.

11. A fastener as described in claim 9 wherein the resilience of the wire is the means for maintaining the penetrator in the fully open position, and wherein a sliding retainer is the means for keeping the penetrator in the fully closed position.

12. A fastener as described in claim 11 wherein the retainer as held captive on the body.

13. A fastener as described in claim 9 wherein a sliding retainer serves to maintain the penetrator in its closed position and in its fully open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,210,214 `8/ 1940 Noll. 2,644,211 7/1953 Sumner 24--162 2,833,013 5/1958 Nonaka 24-162 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 273,776 5/ 1914 Germany.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

